Can Smart Meters Really Work with Solar Panels?
If you’re investing in a Solar Suffolk solar panel and battery system, understanding how your energy moves around your home is key to maximising your return. Smart meters give you accurate, real time insights into your energy usage, helping you unlock the full value of your solar system and achieve the highest possible savings.
Whether you already have panels or are considering them, this guide explains why modern smart meters are now at the heart of an efficient, future proof Suffolk home.
Smarter Energy, Bigger Savings
The UK’s smart meter rollout was designed to modernise the National Grid and give households real time visibility of their gas and electricity use. For solar owners in Suffolk, this technology is even more essential.
Smart meters eliminate estimated bills, meaning you only pay for the energy you actually import. For many solar powered homes, that can be up to 70% less electricity from the grid than a non-solar household.
Your in-home display will show your live energy usage, the cost in pounds and pence and the impact of your solar generation. This helps you adjust your energy habits and save even more. Smart meters also support a lower carbon lifestyle, by clearly showing what you use and when, you become more aware of how to reduce reliance on expensive, carbon intensive grid power – making the most of the free electricity generated by your solar panels.
Why Modern Smart Meters (SMETS2) Are Different
Easy smart meters (SMETS1) often stopped working when customers switched suppliers. This caused untold confusion and concerns about solar compatibility. Today’s second generation SMETS2 smart meters fix that issue completely, allowing them to work across all energy suppliers, operating on a secure national network. The SMETS2 meters fully integrate with solar PV and battery storage, offering uninterrupted data transmission, accurately measuring both imported electricity and the surplus energy you export back to the grid.
Smart Meters and the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
For solar owners in Suffolk, the most valuable smart meter function is enabling payments through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Since 2020, SEG has required suppliers to pay homeowners for the excess solar energy they export. To qualify, your solar system must have a SMETS2 meter capable of submitting half hourly export readings. Your smart meter does this automatically, ensuring accurate, effortless SEG payments with no manual readings.
Ready to Get the Most Out of Your Solar System?
Pairing a professionally installed Solar Suffolk panel and battery system with a modern smart meter gives you the most efficient and cost effective home energy setup possible. Contact Solar Suffolk today for a free, no obligation design and quote. No pressure, just expert, honest advice tailored to your property and energy needs.
Solar on your roof. Power in your hands.
FAQs
Can I have a smart meter if I have solar panels?
Yes. To receive SEG payments, you’ll need a SMETS2 smart meter capable of exporting half-hourly readings.
Can I switch suppliers if I have solar panels?
Yes — as long as your contract allows it. If you have a SMETS1 meter, you may need to submit export readings manually.
How much does a smart meter cost to install?
They’re installed free by your energy supplier. The meter cost is included within standard energy charges.
Do smart meters need WiFi?
No. Smart meters use the secure Wide Area Network. Your in-home display can connect to WiFi if you prefer, but it’s not required.
